House clearances in London can be a stressful business, whether you are moving, clearing out a garage or shed, or dealing with the difficult task of dealing with a deceased loved one’s home and possessions.
It is natural to feel overwhelmed by such a significant life change, especially if it is related to a loss or a significant change in circumstances. However, there are steps you can take to improve the process’s management.
In this blog, we’ve outlined the five top tips to reduce your stress during the house clearance in London.
- Plan Beforehand
- Have a clearout Plan
- List down the things and take photographs
- Unload boxes into the right rooms
- Hire professionals
Plan Beforehand
It may not always be possible, but planning your move or house clearance ahead of time will help you feel more in control and reduce stress. The sooner you know you’re going to be moving or needing a house clearance service, the better.
If you’re moving alone, planning ahead of time makes life easier for both you and anyone who is helping you. If, on the other hand, you intend to use a professional London house clearance service, informing them ahead of time allows them to plan time and routes to complete the job in the best possible efficiency.
Have a Clearout Plan
Again, here is where planning is useful. We are significantly more likely to pack everything and take it to our next home as we leave things till the last minute. How many of us have moved strange socks, unused spice rack contents, and years’ worth of manuals for electrical products that we no longer use in several homes?
As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” so sorting through your belongings may turn up some sellable items. You can list items that you no longer use but are still in good condition, such as old mobile phone chargers, toys, books, and clothes.
Furniture can also be sold or donated to a good cause. You could also upcycle old items to match your new décor; the choice is entirely yours. Some websites recycle old mobile phones and laptops in an eco-friendly manner and may pay you for them.
List down the things and take Photographs
It will be much easier to see what you are left with once you have gotten rid of all your junk. The next step is to pack.
The simplest way to do this is to pack every room, write down a list and turn off every item. You could also photograph everything before packing it away, so you have a record of how it was before it was packed and moved. This is especially important if the items are valuable, or if you pick up the residence of a relative after a bereavement.
Fragile items should be carefully wrapped in bubble wraps, and boxes shouldn’t be overloaded. For example, simply because you can fit more books in a box doesn’t imply that you or anyone else will be able to lift and carry the box, regardless of how strong or well trained they are for the task. Instead, place pads or other light things in heavy item boxes before taping them.
Remember to label the boxes with their designated room and/or contents.
If you are packing up the belongings of a loved one after they have died, label the boxes with the destination, such as ‘charity shop,’ ‘auction,’ and ‘keep.’
Unload Boxes into the Right Rooms
Unpacking will be much easier if you clearly label your boxes and keep your lists. Identify items you will need right away, such as cutlery, tools, and toiletries, then locate and unpack those first.
Many people have a spare room or box room where they store their belongings when they move in. However, there is little incentive to unpack anything if it is not in your way and you do not need it right away, and you may also forget what you own and unnecessarily repurchase items you may already own.
Instead, take each box to the appropriate room and unpack it systematically until everything has a place.
If you did a thorough clearout as mentioned in step-2, you should only have what you need and love.
Finally, to maximize space, store seasonal items such as Christmas trees or sun loungers out of the way.
Hire Professionals
Hiring an experienced team like oneplace2save for your London house clearance removes not only the heavy lifting but also a lot of the stress that comes with moving or clearing a house after a bereavement.
These professional movers will gladly collect and unload furniture and boxes into the appropriate rooms, or deliver them to their new location, as directed by you. They also assist you in unpacking, reconnecting electrical items such as washing machines and refrigerators, and replacing light bulbs. Based on their extensive experience with house moves, these movers will even recommend storage solutions and hang picture frames for you
The house clearance will be stress-free if all of the above actionable steps are followed correctly.
Author: Vidhey PV
Role: Marketing Executive at Oneplace2save